The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-12-07
REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
Commissioner Colman's Account Of
tho Work in tho Agricultural
Department
The Comptroller OF the Currency Re-
cOmmends q Revision OF the
Banking Laws.
AGRICULTURE.
Mr.. Colman's Report-Frogress OF the Work
of DISCRIMINATING Pieuro p neumsnia.

of DISCRIMINATING Pleuro- Pneumonia.
The annual report Of the Commissioner OF
Agriculture says that the Governors OF thirty
one States and Territories have accepted the
rules and regulations Of the Bureau OF Animal
Industry In regard TO pleuro-pneuInoniA,a ana
promised the assistance Of local police officers
to secure their endorsement In addition the
Legislatures OF Rhode Island, Virginia, New
York and Illinois have enacted laws providing
for cooperation The worst eonn absr
was most danger of the spread OF the disease
viz, those in the netghborhood OF New York.
Chicago and Baitimore-have been placed In
quarantine and no cattle allowed to leave them
without "a permit issued after special exam
ination. BY this means new outbreaks have
been almost entirely prevented. .
From the beginning OF the work Tor the
eradication OF this disease. in August, 1855, 70
Oct. 81. 1887, the inspectors VI the bureau have
inspected l. ,357 herds, containing III, 4sO AMI
mails in districts where the plague was sup
posed TO exist Among these there were found
795 infected herds. containing ~. 700 animals OF
which 2, 235 were affected with pleuro- pneuno-
MIA These figures do not include 1878 head OF
cattle in the distlery stables Of Chic ago, near
ly halt of which were diseased. The number
of animals found affected by this disease ana
the number of infected herds were much
greater than had been anticipated. and the
work for its control has subsequently required
q co.respondingly larger force and greater ex-
penditure OF money The progress made, how
ever, has been very satisfactory and the ap-
preparation has been found sufficient to meet
the demands made upon IL.
The Commissioner expresses regret at the
unavoidable loss inflicted ON the farmers OK
Illinois by the cattle quarantine, and adds
There has not been a time in years when
this malady has been confined to such restrict
ed areas as at present and consequently, the
conditions very favorable for its complete
eradication. II the State authorities continue
their cooperation as at present, which there 10
every reason to expect, and II an appropriation
Is made by Congress equal to that OF the pres
ent fiscal year, ind with authority fer its SINH
lar use, it is believed that this dangerous
plague can be exterminated by the end OF the
next fiscal year."
The Commissioner says it is yet too early to
make an official statement OF the results in de-
tail Of the present years experiments in the
development of sorghum-sugar manufacture
but that enough is known already to enable
this country to anticipate early success Of
the enterprise.
The experiments in silk-reeliug have not yet
reached the point of paying their own expenses,
but that was hardly to be hoped for with plant
so limited. Another years experience, il is ex-
pected, will show what can be done under ia
vorable conditions.
The commissioner recommends that the pub
lie printer be authorized to furnish TO the agri-
cultural press OF the country, at the mere cost
of labor and material, electrotypes Of such
illustrations Of the department the editors
may desire, and that the duties of the seed
experiment stations. The commissioner disap-
proves Of the efforts TO make his department an
executive department with cabinet minister
at its head. He says that the building OF reser-
voirs among the Rocky Mountains for the
storage OF an immense volume Of water now
wasted should command the early attention OF
Congress.